ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick fell behind twice against visiting Albany but managed to come away with a 2-2 tie on Saturday on Elmore Field. Three of the day’s goals came inside an 11-minute span in the second half.
            Hawks’ head coach John Scott was positive after the result. “We didn’t give up and twice came from behind,” said Scott. “That’s the sign of character that was tested today and it shows we can respond.”
            Hartwick fell behind just over 10 minutes into the first half. A giveaway in the back allowed the ball to go to Afonso Pinheiro at the top of the box. He slid a pass into Pedro Espindola who walked in a put his shot beyond Hartwick goalkeeper Tom Buckner (Oxford, England/Henley College) for a 1-0 Great Dane lead.
            Albany would finish the half with a 4-2 edge in shots. The Danes also held the crucial advantage on the scoreboard heading into the break.
            The Hawks were gunning early in the second half and it took just 4:13 for them to equalize. Sophomore Mike Rood (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) picked a fine time to get his first goal in a Hartwick jersey as he rifled in a goal past Albany’s Tim Allen from 20 yards away to even the score at one.
            The tie score was short-lived as Pinheiro scored 6:36 later as he was able to dribble past Buckner and finish into an empty net in the 56^th minute.
            The Hawks wouldn’t go away, however, and 4:21 later a Dean Fowler (Sydney, Australia/Colo) blast would tie the game once again. Left back Ross MacKinnon (Glasgow, Scotland/Jordanhill School) started the play off with a service from the left side. Fowler finished it off with a drive to the top right corner. It marked his team-best third goal of the season.
            The Hawks would outshoot the Danes 5-3 over the next 29 minutes of action with neither team able to gain the lead. With just 38 seconds left, Albany had a golden opportunity to walk away with the win as they were awarded a penalty kick following a ’Wick infraction. Espindola stepped up to take the kick but he sent his shot over the bar and the game went to extra time.
            Albany almost got a gift in the first overtime as Pinheirho took down Hartwick’s Kit Tregear (Brighton, England/BHASVIC)) in the back but the official did not whistle for a foul. Instead, Pinheiro went in alone with Buckner and put his shot past him, but it ricocheted off the post. He had one more shot at the ball on the rebound but he put it over the top.
            In the second overtime, the Great Danes had a cross skim the crossbar. Bernardo Mattos had the only other shot from inside the box but it went right at Buckner.
            “The goals from Mike and Dean were superb and both came at important times for us,” added Scott. “It was great to see Dean get his third of the season.”
             Albany edged Hartwick in shots, 13-12. They had a 4-2 edge in the overtimes.
            Buckner made three saves for Hartwick. Allen stopped four ’Wick shots.
            The Hawks are now 0-4-3 on the season and still in search of their first win. Albany is now 2-2-3.
            “We have to keep persevering with hard work,” Scott said. “There’s no other remedy.”
            Hartwick will travel to Ithaca to take on Cornell University on Wednesday night. Kickoff with the Big Red is 7 p.m.

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